A serial burglar who crept into a house while the owner was still in has been jailed for more than two years.

Drug user David Cowan, 27, broke into the house in Parsons Gardens, Dunston, Gateshead, shortly after 4pm on December 13 last year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the householder, Mr Watson, was at home on his own when he heard noise coming from upstairs. Thinking it was one of his children, Mr Watson shouted their names and made his way up when he got no reply.

He was confronted by Cowan at the top of the stairs who claimed he thought it was someone else's house. When Mr Watson challenged him, Cowan dodged past and raced out of the front door.

Mr Watson went into his son's bedroom and found a PlayStation2 had been disconnected and was wrapped in a dressing gown. Cowan was arrested in March after being identified in a video line-up.

The court heard yesterday how Cowan had a previous conviction for burglary in 2000 and another in April 2003 when he was given a three-year sentence.

In September last year he had been given a further 12-month community order, including drug treatment, for a range of offences including shoplifting and possession of cannabis. He was under that order when he committed the latest offence.

His barrister Barry Robson told the court his client had made progress with his drug problem as he had not committed any offences between December and March.

Cowan, of Beacon Court, Beacon Lough, Gateshead, had pleaded guilty to burglary at an earlier hearing.

Sentencing, Judge Beatrice Bolton said she had no doubt that Cowan had a serious a drug problem but his history of offending was "very unhappy reading indeed".

She added: "It is to your credit that you did not offer Mr Watson any violence or was any violence used at all." She gave him credit for his guilty plea and sentenced Cowan to two years and 166 days. He will serve half in prison and half on licence.